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Abstract:

The present invention relates to a device for forming batches of products
to be loaded into receptacles, including: a conveyer (5) having housings,
including two links supporting a plurality of pallets (53) defining
housings (51) between same; a supply conveyer (2) arranged substantially
perpendicular to the housing conveyer (5) and capable of transporting
products (9) one behind the other and of supplying at least one product
in each housing to a loading station via one open lateral side of said
housings, the housing conveyer being provided with abutment means (70)
arranged on the lateral side of the housing opposite the supply conveyer
and used as an abutment for the product to be loaded into each housing;
and unloading means capable of simultaneously unloading a batch of
products from a series of housings of the housing conveyer at an
unloading station.

Claims:

1. Device for forming batches of products intended to be loaded in
receptacles, comprising a first conveyor (5) of the housing type
comprising two endless belts guided on return members (54, 55, 56) with
horizontal rotation axes, on a circulation path, and carrying a plurality
of blades (53) defining housings (51) between them, each housing being
able to be loaded with at least one product (9) at a loading station in
the circulation path and be unloaded at a unloading station in the
circulation path, and drive means able to drive said belts along the
circulation path, a second so-called feed conveyor (2), with an endless
belt, comprising a first endless belt (20) able to transport products (9)
separated from one another and one behind the other, and to bring one or
more products in each housing on the housing conveyor at the loading
station, and second drive means able to drive said first endless belt,
and unloading means able to simultaneously unload a batch of products
from successive housings on the housing conveyor at the unloading
station, in order to load them in a receptacle, characterised in that
said feed conveyor (2) is arranged substantially perpendicular to the
housing conveyor (5) and is able to bring the products (9) in the
housings (51) through an open lateral side of said housings, the housing
conveyor being equipped with stop means (70) able to be arranged on the
lateral side of the housing opposite to the feed conveyor when one or
more products are loaded in said housing, to serve as a stop for said
product or products to be loaded in each housing.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said feed conveyor
(2) comprises a downstream end portion (212) of a length extending
between the two belts (52) of the housing conveyor (5), so that each
product (9) is driven positively in a housing, until it comes into
abutment against the stop means (70).

3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the filling station
is defined at a return member (54, 55, 56), the blades (53) being fixed
rigidly to the belts so that the two successive blades of a housing
separate from each other when the belts pass over said return member, in
order to open the housing and thus facilitate the insertion of one of
more products.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterised in that the blades (53) of
a housing are able to grip the product or products loaded in the housing
after the belts pass over the return members.

5. Device according to claim 3, characterised in that the housing
conveyor (5) comprises the belts guided on a circulation path in a
triangle between two main return members (54, 55) and an intermediate
return member (56), the loading station being defined at said
intermediate return member, the feed conveyor being able to bring the
products (9) into the housings (51) when they pass over the intermediate
return member.

6. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the housing
conveyor (5) comprises the belts guided on a circulation path in a
triangle between two main return members (54, 55) and an intermediate
return member (56), the loading station being defined at said
intermediate return member, the feed conveyor being able to bring the
products (9) into the housings (51) when they pass over the intermediate
return member, and in that said intermediate return member (56) is
arranged above the main return members (54, 55), said intermediate return
member comprising, for each belt, an intermediate wheel (561a, 561b), the
feed conveyor comprising a main top length portion (211) arranged
substantially parallel to the rotation axes of the intermediate wheels,
said downstream end portion (212) being arranged between the two return
wheels.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterised in that the feed conveyor
comprises a single endless belt (20) the top length (21) of which
comprises said main portion (211) and said downstream end portion (212).

8. Device according to claim 6, characterised in that the feed conveyor
also comprises two second endless belts (40), mounted between return
wheels with vertical rotation axes, functioning in synchronism with the
first belt, and having lateral lengths facing each other, close to the
downstream main roller (23), able to grip the products.

9. Device according to one of claim 5, characterised in that the housing
conveyor (5) comprises a rectilinear unloading length defined between the
two main return members (54, 55), said housing conveyor comprising
movement means able to move said main return members in a to-and-fro
movement, parallel to the unloading length.

10. Device according to one of claim 1, characterised in that the
unloading means comprise a pusher (63) able to pass through the open
interior sides of the housings in order to push the products.

11. Device according to one of claim 1, characterised in that the stop
means (70) are adjustable in transverse position.

12. Device according to one of claim 1, characterised in that it
comprises a third so-called discharge conveyor (8), with an endless belt
arranged under the discharge station, parallel or perpendicular to the
housing conveyor, intended to receive the batches of products on its top
length.

13. Device according to one of claim 1, characterised in that it
comprises a sensor (41) able to detect a product (9) unloaded from the
feed conveyor (2), the means of driving the belts of the housing conveyor
being slaved to said sensor.

Description:

[0001] The present invention concerns a device for forming product batches
in order to load them in receptacles, in particular for forming batches
of food products, especially sausages, intended to be loaded in trays.

[0002] Devices for forming product batches are known, comprising a first
conveyor with housings comprising two endless belts guided on return
members with horizontal rotation axes, on a circulation path, and
carrying a plurality of blades defining between them housings each able
to be loaded with at least one product at a loading station in the
circulation path, and be unloaded at a unloading station in the
circulation path, and a second endless belt conveyor able to transport
products one behind the other, and to bring one or more products in each
housing in the conveyor with housings at the loading station. These
devices also comprise unloading means able to simultaneously unload a
batch of products from successive housings in the conveyor with housings
at the unloading conveyor, in order to load them in a receptacle. In
these devices, the second endless belt conveyor is disposed parallel to
the conveyor with housings, and transfers the products through the open
exterior side of the housings defined between the exterior transverse
edges of the blades.

[0003] These devices are conventionally used for flat and/or robust
products and/or ones having a certain rigidity, for example of the
newspaper or journal type. These devices do however prove to be
unsuitable for certain types of product. In addition, these devices do
not allow a precise transverse positioning of the products in the
housings.

[0004] The aim of the present invention is to propose a solution aimed at
overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0005] To this end, the present invention proposes a device for forming
product batches, said batches being intended to be loaded in receptacles,
in particular batches of food products, especially sausages, in order to
load them in trays, comprising [0006] a first conveyor of the housing
type comprising two endless belts guided on return members with
horizontal rotation axes, on a circulation path, and carrying a plurality
of blades defining housings between them, each housing being able to be
loaded with at least one product at a loading station in the circulation
path and be unloaded at an unloading station in the circulation path, and
drive means able to drive said belts along the circulation path, [0007] a
second so-called feed conveyor of endless belt type comprising a first
endless belt able to transport products separated from one another and
one behind the other, and to bring one or more products in each housing
of the housing conveyor at the loading station, and second drive means
able to drive said first endless belt, and [0008] unloading means able to
simultaneously unload a batch of products from successive housings on the
housing conveyor at the unloading station, in order to load them in a
receptacle, characterised in that [0009] said feed conveyor is arranged
substantially perpendicular to the housing conveyor and is able to bring
the products in the housings through an open lateral side of said
housings, [0010] the housing conveyor being equipped with stop means able
to be arranged on the lateral side of the housing opposite to the feed
conveyor when one or more products are loaded in said housing, to serve
as a stop for said product or products to be loaded in each housing; said
stop means are for example able to substantially close each housing on
the lateral side of the housing opposite to the feed conveyor when one or
more products are loaded in said housing.

[0011] According to the invention, the loading of the housing conveyor is
performed laterally from the lateral side of the housing, which makes it
possible to load different types of product, especially elongate
products, in particular non-rigid, such as food products such as
sausages, in a precise transverse position in the housings.

[0012] According to one particularity, said feed conveyor comprises a
downstream end portion with a length extending between the two belts of
the main conveyor, so that each product is driven positively in a
housing, until it abuts against the stop means. Such a downstream end
portion guarantees correct positioning of the product in the housing,
with a precise transverse position in the housing, in particular in the
case of flexible and fragile products, such as sausages, making it
possible to form batches of products that are perfectly aligned, easily
entering receptacles without being damaged.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the filling station is defined at a
return member, the blades being fixed rigidly to the belts so that the
two successive blades of a housing separate from each other when the
belts pass over said return member, in order to open the housing and thus
facilitate the insertion of one or more products, moving closer together
on leaving the return member.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the blades of a housing are able to
grip the product or products loaded in the housing after the belts pass
over the return members. In the case of sausages, the sausages can then
be extracted from the housings in order to be placed directly edge to
edge in trays, without requiring an intermediate restacking step.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the housing conveyor comprises the
belts guided on a circulation path in a triangle by two main return
members and an intermediate return member, the loading station being
defined at said intermediate return member, the feed conveyor being able
to bring the products in the housings when they pass over said
intermediate return member. This arrangement makes it possible to provide
a space for positioning said downstream end portion and to keep a loading
station fixed when the two return members are moved to and fro in order
to carry out unloading at rest, as described below.

[0016] According to one embodiment, said intermediate return member is
arranged above the main return members, said intermediate return member
comprising, for each belt, an intermediate wheel, the feed conveyor
comprising a main top-length portion arranged substantially parallel to
the rotation axes of the intermediate wheels, above said wheels, said
downstream end portion being arranged between the two return wheels,
under the blades.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the feed conveyor comprises a single
endless belt, the top length of which comprises said main portion and
said downstream end portion. The endless belt is advantageously formed
from several belts arranged edge to edge, only a part of the belts
constituting the main portion being used for forming the downstream end
part.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the feed conveyor also comprises two
second endless belts, mounted between return wheels with vertical
rotation axes, functioning in synchronism with the first belt, and having
lateral lengths facing each other, close to the downstream main roller,
able to grip the products.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the main conveyor comprises a
rectilinear unloading length defined between the two main return members,
said housing conveyor comprising movement means able to move said main
return members in a to-and-fro movement, parallel to the unloading
length, in order to stop said unloading length when batches of products
are unloaded by said unloading means, while continuing the loading of the
products in the housings.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the unloading means comprise a pusher
able to pass through the open internal sides of the housings in order to
push the products.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the stop means are adjustable in
transverse position.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the batch forming device comprises a
third so-called output conveyor, with an endless belt, arranged under the
unloading station, parallel or perpendicular to the housing conveyor,
intended to receive on its top length the batches of products, directly
or indirectly via receptacles.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the device comprises a sensor able to
detect a product leaving the feed conveyor, the means of driving the
belts of the housing conveyor being slaved to said sensor.

[0024] The invention will be better understood and other aims, details,
features and advantages will emerge more clearly during the detailed
explanatory description that follows of a currently preferred particular
embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying schematic
drawings, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 is perspective view of a batch forming device according to
the invention;

[0031] FIG. 7A to 7G are different schematic side views of the housing
conveyor, illustrating the various steps for the continuous loading of
six sausages and the unloading of a batch of six sausages in a tray at
rest.

[0032] The figures illustrate a batch forming device 1 for loading batches
of sausages in trays B. The device according to the invention is for
example arranged downstream of a sausage manufacturing machine, such as
the one described in the patent document FR 2 725 876.

[0033] The device comprises a feed conveyor 2, a housing conveyor 5 and a
discharge conveyor 8 for conveying trays.

[0034] With reference to FIGS. 2 to 6, and in particular FIG. 4, the
housing conveyor 5 comprises a pair of endless belts 52 spaced apart from
each other and parallel to each other, carrying blades 53 that delimit
individual housings 51 between them. The belts are mounted on two main
return members 54, 55 and an intermediate return member 56 so that the
belts are moved on a circulation path in a triangle.

[0035] The belts 52 consist of chains formed by links 521 articulated to
each other, each blade 53 is formed by a rectangular plate that is
mounted on a link in each chain. The blades are rigidly fixed to the
links and extend outwards substantially at 90° to the links. Each
housing 51 is delimited between two successive parallel blades and has an
open exterior side defined between the two exterior transverse edges 531
of the blades, an open bottom side defined between the two interior
transverse edges 532, and two open lateral sides, a first one defined
between the two lateral edges 533 and a second defined between the two
lateral edges 534.

[0036] According to FIG. 2, the main return members 54, 55 comprise two
upstream notched wheels 541 secured to a first spindle 542 and two
downstream notched wheels 551 secured to a second spindle 552. The
intermediate return member 56 comprises two intermediate notched wheels
561a, 561b. Each belt 52 meshes on an intermediate wheel, an upstream
wheel and a downstream wheel. The first spindle 542 of the upstream
wheels and the second spindle 552 of the downstream wheels are mounted
rotatably on a first support 58, which is mounted so as to be able to
move in horizontal translation on the frame 10 of the batch forming
device. The intermediate wheels are mounted rotatably on a second support
57, independently of each other, above the upstream and downstream pairs
of wheels, said second support 57 being mounted fixedly on the frame 10.
The so-called unloading length 50A of the conveyor 5, which is defined
between the two pairs of upstream and downstream wheels, is arranged
substantially horizontally.

[0037] Movement means (not shown), mounted between the frame 10 and the
first support 58, are able to move the first support 58 in horizontal
translation with respect to the frame, in a to-and-fro movement, between
a so-called reference position illustrated in FIG. 7A and an extreme
position illustrated in FIG. 7D. First drive means 59, acting for example
on the intermediate wheel 561a opposite to the feed conveyor 2, are able
to rotate the chains carrying the blades in the anticlockwise direction,
as illustrated by the arrow reference F1 in FIG. 7A. In the reference
position, the upstream and downstream pairs of wheels are arranged
substantially symmetrically on either side of the intermediate wheels,
the circulation path being substantially in an isosceles triangle. The
first drive means and the movement means function in synchronism, so that
the unloading length 50A is at rest while the first support 58 carrying
the upstream and downstream wheels is moving towards its extreme
position. During this movement, the triangle of the circulation path
deforms. To guarantee an identical length of circulation path when the
triangle deforms, the second spindle of the downstream wheels is mounted
on the first support 58 by means of an elastic system 60, illustrated
schematically in FIG. 7A, enabling said spindle to move in horizontal
translation with respect to its support 58.

[0038] The housing conveyor has a loading station where the loading of the
sausages takes place and an unloading station arranged at the unloading
length 50A where the unloading of the sausages from the housings takes
place. Between two return members, and in particular at the unloading
length, the blades are arranged parallel to one another. When the belts
pass over the return members, the blades separate, as can be seen in the
figures. The separation pitch e2 between two successive blades is defined
so that each sausage placed in a housing is gripped between the two
blades when the latter are parallel to each other, and the loading
station of the housing conveyor is defined at the intermediate wheels,
when the two blades of a housing are furthest apart. To hold the sausages
in the housings when the belts pass over the upstream wheels, a curved
cowling 61 is mounted on the first support 58 in order to close off the
external side of the housings defined between the external transverse
edges 531 of the blades. To guarantee the holding of the sausages in the
housings along the length of the conveyor defined between the
intermediate wheels and the upstream wheels, flat cowlings 62a, 62b are
mounted on the first support and on the second support in order to close
off the internal side of the housings defined between the internal
transverse edges 532 of the blades.

[0039] At the unloading station, the conveyor comprises unloading means 63
formed by a pusher comprising a base carrying a plurality of bars. The
pusher is mounted so as to be able to move in vertical translation on the
first support, between a high retracted position illustrated in FIG. 7a,
in which the pusher is placed above the unloading length, between the two
chains, and a low active position, illustrated in FIGS. 2, 7B and 7C, in
which the bars of the pusher enter the housings in order to push the
sausages out of the housings, downwards, into trays B positioned on the
discharge conveyor 8. To guarantee holding of the sausages in the
housings along the unloading length upstream of the loading station, a
cowling 64 is mounted on the second support 57 in order close off the
internal side of the housings. At the loading station, a hatch system 65
(FIG. 3) may be provided, movable between a closed position, to close off
said internal sides when the pusher is in the retracted position, and an
open position to enable the sausages to be unloaded by the pusher in the
active position.

[0040] The feed conveyor 2 comprises a first endless belt 20 receiving, on
its top length 21, the sausages 9 emerging from a manufacturing machine.
This feed conveyor transports the longitudinally oriented sausages 9 in
the direction F2, one behind the other. The feed conveyor, arranged
perpendicular to the housing conveyor, places the sausages in the
housings 51.

[0041] With reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, the first endless belt comprises a
top length portion 211, referred to as the main portion, for bringing the
sausages in the housings through an open lateral side of the housings at
the loading station, and a top length portion 212, referred to as the
downstream end, arranged between the two chains 52, under the internal
transverse edges 532 of the blades 53. The main portion 211 and the
downstream end portion 212 are centred on the same vertical plane passing
through the rotation axes of the intermediate wheels 561a, 561b, the two
portions 211, 212 being separated from each other by a sufficient
distance for the positioning between them of the intermediate wheel 561b.

[0042] The main portion 211 is defined between an upstream main roller 22
and a downstream main roller 23, these two rollers being mounted
rotatably on a chassis 24 of the feed conveyor about a horizontal axis.
The chassis of the feed conveyor is mounted on the frame of the device,
so that the axis of the downstream main roller is placed parallel to the
chains 52 of the housing conveyor, the endless belt that passes over the
downstream roller being arranged close to the intermediate wheel 561b
without contact with the latter. At said downstream main roller 23, the
main portion 211 extends substantially horizontally, and above the level
of the chain passing over the intermediate wheel 561b.

[0043] The end portion 212 is defined between an upstream secondary roller
31 and a downstream secondary roller 32, with horizontal rotation axes,
perpendicular to the axes of the intermediate wheels 561a, 561b.

[0044] After passing over the upstream main roller 23, the endless belt
passes over an intermediate main roller 25 arranged between the upstream
and downstream main rollers 22, 23, and then passes over a first
intermediate secondary roller 33, before passing over the upstream
secondary roller, said first intermediate secondary roller 33 being
arranged between and below the upstream and downstream secondary rollers
31, 32.

[0045] The main intermediate roller 25 and the first intermediate
secondary roller 33 are arranged so that the belt length defined between
them can pass under the intermediate wheel 561b. At the exit from the
first intermediate secondary roller, the belt passes over a second
intermediate secondary roller 34 in order to return in the direction of
the upstream main roller 22, passing under the intermediate main roller
25.

[0046] With reference to FIG. 6, at the main portion 211, the endless belt
is formed by four belts arranged edge to edge, including two so-called
lateral belts 20b, placed on either side of two central belts 20a. At the
downstream end portion 212, the belt is formed solely by two central
belts. At the exit from the intermediate main roller 25, only the two
central belts 20a are directed in the direction of the secondary rollers,
the two lateral belts 20b passing over main return wheels 26 in order
then to pass directly over the upstream main roller 22. Second drive
means, acting for example on the intermediate main roller 25, drive the
first endless belt 20 continuously, in the direction F2.

[0047] In a variant, the main portion 211 and the downstream end portion
are obtained by using two separate endless belts.

[0048] The feed conveyor also comprises two second endless belts 40, only
one of which is shown in FIG. 1, mounted between upstream and downstream
return wheels, with vertical rotation axes, and having lateral lengths
arranged opposite each other, on either side of the main portion 211 of
the top length of the first belt, close to the downstream main roller 23.
The separation of the two belts can advantageously be adjusted so as to
be adapted to the cross section of the sausages, in order to grip them
lightly between the two facing lengths. These second belts are driven by
third drive means so that said opposite lengths move substantially at the
same speed as the main portion of the top length of the first belt. These
second belts centre the sausages on the main portion, provide
longitudinal positioning of the sausages, which have a natural tendency
to curve in the case of natural casings, and guarantee good projection of
the sausages into the housings from said main portion.

[0049] The loading station of the housing conveyor comprises stop means 70
comprising a plate 71 mounted perpendicularly to the blades in order to
close off the lateral side of each housing that is opposite to the feed
conveyor. The plate can be mounted fixedly on the second support 57 of
the housing conveyor in different positions, offset transversely from one
another. The blades 53 are provided with several slots 535 corresponding
to these various transverse positions of the plate, the plate being
inserted in slots of the blades passing at the loading station when the
chains are driven. Only a few slots are shown in FIG. 5 for reasons of
clarity.

[0050] The plate 71 is mounted fixedly on the second support, above the
downstream end portion 212, via a transverse rod 72 mounted slidably on a
support 73 assembled removably on the second support or on the frame,
above the intermediate wheel 561a.

[0051] With reference in particular to FIG. 4, the batch forming device
also comprises a discharge conveyor 8 for transporting trays B arranged
one behind the other, comprising a first endless belt 81 comprising a top
length extending under the unloading length 50A parallel to the latter.
This endless belt is formed by a plurality of cables, only one of which
is shown in the figures, guided on rollers mounted rotatably on the frame
10 around axes parallel to the rollers of the housing conveyor. This
endless belt is driven continuously via fourth drive means. At the
discharge station, the discharge conveyor comprises two longitudinal
rails 82 offset transversely from each other, passing between the cables,
and the top edges of which are arranged above said cables. The discharge
conveyor also comprises two second endless belts 83, only one of which is
shown in the figures, mounted between upstream and downstream return
wheels with vertical rotation axes, and having lateral lengths placed
opposite each other above the top length of the first belt 81, on either
side of the longitudinal rails. The discharge conveyor advantageously
comprises an adjustment system 84 for adjusting the transverse position
of each lateral length as well as the separation between the two lateral
lengths, according to the adjustment of the transverse position of the
aforementioned plate 71, in order to adapt the device to different types
of tray and different lengths of sausage. These second belts are driven
by fifth drive means, so that said opposite lateral belts move
substantially at the same speed as the top length of the first belt 81.
The second belts are adjusted so as to wedge the trays transversely and
grip them between the facing lengths in order to move them step by step.
The first endless belt functions continuously in order to bring the trays
as far as the rails and then discharge them at the exit from the rails,
the second belts functioning in step by step, in order to move the trays,
which rest on the rails, one after the other, under the loading station
of the housing conveyor.

[0052] The device according to the invention comprises a control unit able
to control the drive means of the first belt 20 and the second belts 40
of the feed conveyor 2, the drive means of the housing conveyor 5 and the
means of moving its first support 58 for the main rollers, its pusher 63
and any hatch system 65, and the means of driving the second belts 83 of
the discharge conveyor.

[0053] A description of the functioning of the batch forming device
according to the invention will now be given.

[0054] The feed conveyor 2 receives, on the main portion 211 of the top
length of its first belt, on the same side as its main upstream roller
22, the sausages 9 emerging from a manufacturing machine. Each sausage
carried on said main length is gripped between the two lateral lengths of
the second belts 40 and ejected into a housing 51 placed opposite said
main portion. The sausage passes between the two lateral edges 533 of the
blades, and comes onto the downstream end portion 212 of the top length,
which is arranged between the two blades of the housing. The sausage is
then moved positively by this end portion until it comes into abutment
against the plate 71. As the chains 52 advance, the blades defining the
housing approach each other and grip the sausage, and the following empty
housing arrives at the loading station in order to be loaded with the
following sausage transported by the feed conveyor.

[0055] FIGS. 7A to 7G illustrate the various steps of a cycle of loading
six sausages at the loading station and unloading a batch of six sausages
at the unloading station.

[0056] In FIG. 7A the pairs of main wheels are in their reference
position, arranged symmetrically on either side of the fixed intermediate
wheels. An empty tray B is placed at rest at the filling station, under
the pusher in the retracted position, and a first sausage 911
arrives to be loaded at the loading station.

[0057] The chains carrying the blades are moved by a distance e2
corresponding to the separation pitch between two successive parallel
blades, until the following empty housing is brought to the loading
station for loading a second sausage 912. During this movement of
the chains over this distance e2, the first sausage 911 is loaded in
a housing and the first support carrying the pairs of upstream and
downstream rollers is moved in horizontal translation towards the left by
a distance e1, corresponding to a half pitch. This horizontal translation
movement has the effect of stopping the movement of the unloading length
50A. The six sausages 92 placed in the housings positioned in line with
the pusher 63 are then ejected out of the housings by movement of the
pusher into the low position and fall by gravity into the tray, as
illustrated in FIG. 7B,

[0058] During the following movement of the chains by a distance e2 for
loading a third sausage 913, the first support is moved towards the
left by a half pitch in order to keep the unloading length stopped, with
the pusher in the active position, as illustrated in FIG. 7C.

[0059] During the following movement of the chains by distance e2 for
loading a fourth sausage 914, the first support is moved towards the
left by a half pitch in order to keep the unloading length stopped and to
enable the pusher to return to the high position, as illustrated in FIG.
7D. The first support is then shifted towards the left by a distance e3
corresponding to 3/2 pitches. Simultaneously, the second belts of the
discharge conveyor are driven so as to bring an empty tray under the
pusher.

[0060] During following movements over a distance corresponding to three
pitches, the fifth and sixth sausages 915, 916 are loaded into
housings, another sausage 93 arrives at the loading station, and the
first support is moved in translation to its reference position, as
illustrated in FIGS. 7E to 7G, the position of the housing conveyor in
FIG. 7G being identical to that in FIG. 7A. This translation movement
combined with the movement of the chains has the effect of moving the
loading length by six pitches towards the right and thus bringing six
housings loaded with sausages to the pusher. Moreover, an empty tray is
brought under the pusher.

[0061] A simple parameterising of the device makes it possible to modify
the number of sausages per batch. By way of example, by providing a
pusher with twelve bars, as illustrated in the figures, batches of twelve
sausages can be formed by keeping, from the position illustrated in FIGS.
7A to 7G, a first support in its reference position during the movement
of the chains over six additional pitches, and then effecting the cycle
described in FIGS. 7B to 7F.

[0062] At the discharge from the sausage manufacturing machine, the
sausages are arranged longitudinally one behind the other, with a
longitudinal separation between two successive sausages that is
substantially constant. In normal operation, the chains of the housing
conveyor are driven continuously, substantially at a constant speed. To
guarantee loading of all the housings of the conveyor passing at the
loading station, in particular in the case of an irregular supply of
sausages from the feed conveyor, the feed conveyor advantageously
comprises a sensor 41 able to detect the presence of a sausage leaving
the main portion 211. The driving of the chains of the housing conveyor
is then slaved to the output signal of this sensor, and can be slowed and
optionally stopped according to variations in separation between two
successive sausages on the feed conveyor.

[0063] According to variant embodiments, several sausages can be loaded in
each housing. In this case, the stop means advantageously comprise one or
more additional stops able to be inserted at the loading station in the
housing, after the insertion of a sausage, against which the following
sausage loaded in the housing comes into abutment. The device according
to the invention can of course be used for loading other types of product
in receptacles, for example meatballs.

[0064] According to variant embodiments, the sausages fall directly onto
the length of a discharge conveyor, formed for example by a single
continuous endless belt, arranged parallel or perpendicular to the
unloading length of the housing conveyor.

[0065] According to a variant embodiment, the circulation path is in a
triangle, and the loading takes place as before, laterally, at the
intermediate member, but the latter is arranged below the main members.
The downstream end portion then substantially closes off the open
exterior side of the housing defined between the exterior transverse
edges of the blades. The unloading is carried out on the unloading length
by a pusher lifting the sausages, and by a gripping head, for example of
the sucker type, mounted on a robot, able to grip the batches of sausages
in order to transfer them into receptacles.

[0066] According to another variant embodiment, the housing conveyor
comprises two main return members, the feed conveyor then being arranged
perpendicular at one of the two return members. The feed conveyor has a
main top length portion carrying the sausages as before, and a downstream
end portion of an inclined length, substantially closing off the open
exterior side of the housing, and having an inclined surface against
which the sausages come into abutment. The two return members can also be
moved in a to-and-fro movement in order to effect the unloading at rest
of batches in receptacles, the feed conveyor then moving with the loading
station.

[0067] Although the invention has been described in relation to a
particular embodiment, it is obvious that it is in no way limited thereto
and that it comprises all technical equivalents of the means described as
well as combination thereof if they come within the scope of the
invention.